Very young patients with spinal deformity pose major treatment challenges due to their potential to develop major spinal deformity with ongoing growth. Understanding the nature of a scoliosis and detecting patients with potentially serious deformity early may allow for life-changing deformity correction. The role of motion-preserving surgical techniques for young patients with stapling, banding and the potential for recently introduced “growing” rods systems, which allow for indirect deformity correction, has changed the potential for meaningful intervention in these at-risk patients. By re-expanding the spinal column and modulating its growth, major fusion surgery can possibly be delayed until the major overall patient growth has been completed. University of Washington doctor Theodore Wagner and others address recent results reported with these techniques. (Series: Fifth Annual Harborview Spine Symposium)
The upper cervical spine with its two bone segments is the most complicated and vulnerable region of the human spinal column, making it a target for a number of arthritic disorders. Dr. Randy...
Low back pain is a common but unspecific symptom for arthritis sufferers. There are, however, a number of pathologic conditions, which may require even further attention. The University of...
Certain arthritic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, often manifests at the junction of the skull to the neck, as well as its upper two motion segments. Dr. Virany Hillard, assistant...
One of the goals of deformity surgery in the spine is to minimize the length of a fusion to preserve best possible motion of non-affected spine segments. A number of factors can contribute to...
As the aging population grows, certain types of fractures are becoming more common. These fractures involve arthritic conditions in which the spinal column loses its motion process and eventually...
A variety of arthritic disorders may cause the lower cervical spine to become susceptible to progressive collapse and deformity. Dr. Jens R. Chapman, professor of orthopaedic and neurological...
Attempts to avoid fusion surgery, the intentional stiffening of formerly mobile lumbar motion segments, are under way as developments in less invasive procedures emerge. Dr. John Devine, Lt. Col....
Complications are rare but real risks of any medical or surgical intervention. This program takes a look into complications that may arise for patients with arthritic conditions, including...
Learn about the arthritic conditions of Ramses II as Dr. Greg Gardner, professor of rheumatology at the University of Washington, provides an overview of various arthritic orders and what types of...
While fusion remains a key method for treatment of spinal deformity correction, ultimately some patients may be treated with motion-preserving surgery. University of Washington doctors discuss the...
